Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen speaks to the media after the game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Raiders played their first pre-season game last night…..Oh you couldnt make it, don’t worry the Raiders didn’t show up anyway.
In an almost unwatchable showcase of the “New” Raiders, Oakland layed an egg losing to the Minnesota Vikings 10-6.
The Raiders first team offense put up a embarrassing 51 yards and provided just one first down.
This was this first time Raider Nation got to see the many new faces in Oakland in live game action. A time to feed a starving fanbase with some new hope.
Instead it was more of the same, another pre-season stinker, resulting in more questions and doubt than confidence and excitment.
Rather than go over the individual stats and performances, I rather focus on the overall effort of the team. These Raiders turned out a lackadasical effort in a game that turned into a glorified scrimmage.
Penalties, lack of execution, dropped passes, blown coverage, no passion. Pre-season or not, this is unacceptable!
I can hear the voices now, “calm down, it just pre-season”. Which is understadable to a certain extent.
But what drives me crazy, and probably drives Raider Nation crazy is, we have heard that excuse before.
Execution is what wins football games in the NFL, and the Oakland Raiders showed a compelte lack of execution on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
The first team defense and offense showed a complete disinterest in coming out a setting a tone and standard for excellence. That tone and standard has to be a constant, whether in OTA’s, Training Camp, Pre-Season, Season, or the Playoffs, you can not just turn it off and on.
I blame this first effort and loss on the Coaching Staff and Dennis Allen, who allowed this Raiders team to show up, or rather not show up, in a game that meant a lot to not only Raider Nation, but to owner Mark Davis.
Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted out during the game
Some #Raiders observers in area near press box are clearly very upset with the proceedings tonight
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 9, 2014
The same old rhetoric is getting old. Coach Allen and the Coaching Staff have to do a better job of getting this team ready to play.
Pre-season or not, this Raiders loss was unacceptable for a fanbase and owner with higher expectations.